The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-01
FRED'S FORFEIT.

rafting the windows and whistling
round the caves, sending the remain
ing nuts and acorns down in pelting
showers, and whirling the dead leaves
before it in a very dervish dance.
But within all was light and warmth
and cheer, for the great kitchen had
been given over to the young people
for Halloween merry-making, and
nuts were swapping, apples bobbing
and every charm was at work that
mirth or mischief could devise.
"And now for a rousing ghost
story" said Harry Ray, as there was
8 lull in the merry din. Gather
round the fire, boys and girls. The
witching hour draws near when
church-yards yawn and graves give up
their deadr"
"Oh, don't!' cried half a dozen of
the girls, nervously-"don't, Harry,
please"
81 know a regular blood-curdler,"
continued Harry, relentlessly, 'iust
adapted to this occasion. Blow out
the lights, boys; Pm going to make
your flesh creep!"
"Oh, do hug us up close, Fredp
pleaed little Tom and joey, shudder-
ing, as they sought their big cousins
arms. Harry is going to scare US
awful now!'
mo, don't, Harry" said Fred, earn
estly. 81 declare against any such chill
ing entertainment as ghost-stories!
EWhat have you got to do with it?"
asked Harry, roughly.
mot much, of coursew answered
Fred, his face flushing at his cousins
tone, for spoiled Harry let no oppor-
tunity pass of showing Fred how little
consequence he was in the Ray home
stead.
He was the orphan son of distant
relative, and for the last three years
had done chores about the farm in re-
turn for his board and the privilege
of attending the district school. Har-
RVS old jackets and cast-of hats, a
cold garnet, cold corner and ''cold
shoulder" generally was his portion.
But he was nevertheless, CHEEKY,
big-hearted young fellow, and -four
ished even on this fare, bitter as he
often found it. The horses neighed at
his footsteps, the dogs licked his hand,
and Tom and Joey, the six-year-old
twins, trotted after him at all times
and all places. 1t was in their inter-
est he spoke tonight.
You'll brighten these little tackers
so they won't sleep a wink"
Bother the little tackers! They
ought to be in bed, anyhow"
''Put it to the vote, them" said Fred,
fairly. (which shall it be, girls and
boys-ghosts or forfeits?"
"Forfeits! forfeitsm was the almost
unanimous cry-'a jolly game Of for
feits."
Harry's brow darkened as he saw
himself overruled. He stood looking
| Nv III To- ha ofh %haf
forfeits in the big basket that Fred
handed around, and that soon brimmed
over with its burden of scarfs and
handkerchiefs, neck-ribbons, knives,
pencil-cases and watch-guards.
The forfeit-holder, Len Evans, took
his seat, and then Fred, who had been
appointed Judge, turned good-humor-
eddy to Harry:
you're better than am at this sort
of fun, Hal; take my place"
And, somewhat Modified, Hal took
his place; and, allowing his eyes to be
bandaged, began to administer tasks
with a roguish malice that might rea-
sonably cause the suspicion that Jus.
tice, in this case, was not so blind as
she seemed.
Pretty Mary Lee was ordered to
blacken the end of her saucy little
uOSC1 ObppOI w III NTIOcu 10 SOuSS HIS
carefully oiled head three times in the
water-barrel, and stolid Sam Greaves
to turn a double somersault on the
kitchen floor.
"Silence in the court - silencei'
shouted the forfeit-master, as poor
Sam rolled over, with split jacket
and apoplectic face, mid a very hurri-
cane of gleeful applause.
1--WE come to another and most val
liable forfeit now, which will require
his honor's grave attention"
And he held up a big iack-knife.
''Oh, that's yours, Fred, isn't it?'
said little Tom, in a stage-whisper.
"Hush, hush" admonished Fred,
shaking his head, while Len waved the
liack-knife and went on, in solemn tone
Heavy, heavy hangs over your
head"
''Fine or superfne?" asked Harry.
Fine. What shall the owner do?'
1.-The owner? Let me think Bring
me three leaves ivy-leaves from the
church-yard WALL" said the Judge,
after a moments pause.
"Oh, oh" went up a general muir.
muir of dismay, "whose is that?"
Mime" replied Fred, stepping for.
ward; land think Harry knew it. >
''Do you mean to say l cheated?'
said his cousin, snatching off his ban.
dage.
Il mean to say Tom told, said Fred
"But a forfeit isn't worth a fuss; III
do it."
"Oh. don't Fred" implored little
Tom.
Don't; the ghosts will catch you,
added Joey ruefully.
ats Halloween night, Fred~ cried
. warning chorus.
81 know it," answered Fred. I'm
not afraid. I'll bring the three ivy.
leaves if have to give my head fol-
them"
And he pulled on his rough cap and
started off.
at was a mean trick in Hail." he
said to himself, as the nipping wind
caught him on the threshold. HE did
it for spite, know. He thought I'd
back out. But I'm not afraid.
don't believe in ghosts, even if it is
Halloween"
Yet, fearless as he indeed was. Fred
was still conscious that his task was
anything but pleasant one.
The night was dark, the sky OBJ
scured by heavy clouds, that, parting
now and then, would show q yelled
moon cleaning behind with a pale,
sepuchral light. The wind seemed
witch-ridden, so sudden were its gusts
and whirls. Even familiar objects
trees, the barns, the haystacks-took
strange, shadowy outlines in the chang
ing and uncertain light
| Level-headed fellow as Fred was, he
could not help feeling the weird in
fuence of the scene and the hour. All
the strange stories he had ever heard
of this mystic night began to float
| through his mind.
He remembered how. in the happy
long ago. when he had parents and
home, he used to sit before the nursery
fire and listen with open eyes and ears
60 old Norah's wonderful legends OF
Holy Eve in the could counthry--
how fairies danced, and graves opened,
and ''thim walked on airth who were
miles beneath the say"
Beneath the sea: That was always
3 sad and soldering thought for poor
Fred, for it was only thres years ago